Queen of the Con: From a Spiritualist to the Carnegie Imposter

Cassie Chadwick, a notorious con woman known as the Carnegie Imposter, defrauded banks and institutions by posing as the illegitimate daughter of Andrew Carnegie. This book is the first full-length account of her career, exploring gender stereotypes, social and economic class structures, and human vulnerability to fraud.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 320 pages
\n Publication date: 26 October 2021
\n Publisher: Kent State University Press
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The captivating tale of audacious con woman Cassie Chadwick, the Carnegie Imposter, unfolds in Queen of the Con. This meticulously researched book delves into the life of Cassie Chadwick, a successful swindler and one of the top 10 imposters of all time, as recognized by Time magazine. Born Betsy Bigley in 1857 in Canada, she initially operated as Madame Devere, a European clairvoyant, before her career took a dramatic turn. In 1890, Cassie was arrested for defrauding a Toledo bank of $20,000.

During her time as a madam in Cleveland in the mid-1890s, Cassie met and married a widowed physician with a prestigious Euclid Avenue address. It was during this period that she embarked on her most audacious con yet. At the dawn of the 20th century, Cassie borrowed $2 million (worth roughly $50 million today) throughout northern Ohio, Pittsburgh, New York, and Boston by convincingly posing as the illegitimate daughter of wealthy industrialist-turned-philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

When the fraud collapsed in 1904, it caused a nationwide sensation. Cassie, undeterred, defended herself by stating, "Yes, I borrowed money in very large amounts, but what of it? You can't accuse a poor businesswoman of being a criminal, can you?" Carnegie, who remained silent on the matter, humorously remarked that Cassie had demonstrated that his credit was still good.

Queen of the Con offers a comprehensive account of Cassie Chadwick's notorious career, serving as a forerunner to more recent female scammers like Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes or fake heiress Anna Sorokin, the "Soho Grifter." Author Crowl's engaging storytelling not only sheds light on Cassie's life but also prompts readers to contemplate aspects of gender stereotypes, social and economic class structures, and the ways in which humans can be easily fooled. This captivating book is a must-read for anyone interested in the darker side of human nature and the extraordinary lengths people will go to deceive others.

\n Weight: 470g\n
Dimension: 155 x 231 x 23 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781606354292\n \n